Berlin airport in new setback over flight route

BERLIN (AP) -- A court has delivered another setback to Berlin's problem-plagued new airport, striking down a planned flight route for departing planes because it passes close to a small nuclear research reactor.

The Berlin administrative court ruled Wednesday evening that planners failed to assess sufficiently the possible risks of a plane crash or terrorist attack when drawing up the route over Berlin's Wannsee suburb. It acted on complaints from residents and local councils.

The legal battle over approach and takeoff routes comes on top of technical troubles at the new airport's terminal. Those have forced officials to delay its opening four times — most recently earlier this month.

The airport was originally scheduled to open in late 2011, but now appears unlikely to be in service before 2015.